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Any Phal Help would be much appreciated!

Posted by Sherlocked NY (My Page) on
Thu, Feb 21, 13 at 9:00

Hi guys!
I'm new to these forums, so good to meet you all! :D
I have two Phals, one I just purchased that seems to be doing ok and the other that I've had for a year that is not doing so well (picture attached).

What happened:

When my first phal didn't bloom this year, I got a bit suspicious and dug him out of the moss that he was in to find lots of root rot. I cut off as much as I could and replanted him in a clay pot into orchid bark. After a few weeks, the lowermost leaf turned yellow and dropped off and the rest of his leaves went wrinkled and limp, so I dug him up again (poor guy) to find some leftover moss that was choking the inner roots by the heart of the plant, much of which was rotted out. I thoroughly went through and dug out all the moss, and he seemed to be doing better.
I've been watering him every few days, as soon as the bark dries out (2-3) and he WAS doing better until my roommates moved him from the table he was on to the windowsill on the past two nights since they needed to use the table. We live by NY, so to put it in perspective, it gets to be about 20 degrees here at night, and the windowsills (especially where they squished him in the corner up against the glass) drop down to about 40.

I watered him this morning, (thoroughly drenched with room temp brita filtered water) and read that I should put a bag over the leaves to keep in moisture. I checked the roots and they are doing fine. :D

Is there anything else I can do to try to save him?
I appreciate any help you could provide!

Thanks,
Jenn


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Any Phal Help would be much appreciated!

Another picture for reference:


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RE: Any Phal Help would be much appreciated!

I don't know what to say. You could continue what you are doing and give the plant a few weeks. This is not the best time to be repotting Phals. They like warmth and bright light. Keep the plant warm and away from the window. The plant needs light to grow new roots and recover. So leave it on the table where it gets some light.

It is too soon to know what will happen. Just wait, you should know in a few weeks to a month. Make sure the plant is getting some fresh air or it will rot.

Good luck,
Jane


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RE: Any Phal Help would be much appreciated!

Alright, I'll just leave it be for a while. I only repotted because I heard that winter when the plant was not in bloom was a good time to repot, but I guess not. Thanks for the help!


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RE: Any Phal Help would be much appreciated!

Don't get discouraged. I've seen at lot worse.The key thing is warmth. A lot of people don't appreciate how hot the climate is where these guys come from. The temp needs to reach 80F every day and never fall below 60. Yes I'm serious. Ever been to the Phillipines? If you keep them warm enough you won't have any problems. I like your idea of the poly bags, but it's an ugly solution. Why don't you grow them in a covered aquarium ( without the water of course) where you can keep them warm AND maintain the high humidity. You can get some fancy ( and expensive) growing cases. Good luck. - Ian.


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